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THE DESPAIRING SHEPHERD.

1 Alexis shun'd his Fellow Swains,
2 Their rural Sports, and jocund Strains:
3 (Heav'n guard us all from Cupid's Bow!)
4 He lost his Crook, He left his Flocks;
5 And wand'ring thro' the lonely Rocks,
6 He nourish'd endless Woe.
7 The Nymphs and Shepherds round Him came:
8 His Grief Some pity, Others blame:
9 The fatal Cause All kindly seek.
10 He mingled his Concern with Their's:
11 He gave 'em back their friendly Tears:
12 He sigh'd, but would not speak.
13 Clorinda came among the rest:
14 And She too kind Concern exprest,
15 And ask'd the Reason of his Woe:
16 She ask'd, but with an Air and Mein,
17 That made it easily foreseen,
18 She fear'd too much to know.
19 The Shepherd rais'd his mournful Head:
20 And will You pardon Me, He said,
21 While I the cruel Truth reveal?
22 Which nothing from my Breast should tear;
23 Which never should offend Your Ear;
24 But that You bid Me tell.
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25 'Tis thus I rove, 'tis thus complain;
26 Since You appear'd upon the Plain:
27 You are the Cause of all my Care:
28 Your Eyes ten thousand Dangers dart:
29 Ten thousand Torments vex My Heart:
30 I love, and I despair.
31 Too much, Alexis, I have heard:
32 'Tis what I thought; 'tis what I fear'd:
33 And yet I pardon You, She cry'd:
34 But You shall promise ne'er again
35 To breath your Vows, or speak your Pain:
36 He bow'd, obey'd, and dy'd.

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Title (in Source Edition): THE DESPAIRING SHEPHERD.
Author: Matthew Prior
Themes:
Genres: ode

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Prior, Matthew, 1664-1721. Poems on Several Occasions [English poems only]. London: Printed for JACOB TONSON at Shakespear's-Head over against Katharine-Street in the Strand, and JOHN BARBER upon Lambeth-Hill. MDCCXVIII., 1718, pp. 23-24. [42],506,[6]p.: ill.; 2°. (ESTC T075639) (Page images digitized from a copy in the Bodleian Library [H 6.8 Art.].)

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